What's the next big idea? Wittenberg University students hope they have the answer as they take their business venture ideas to the next level during the campus’ third annual Tiger Tank event at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5, at Founders Pub in the Benham-Pence Student Center.

Five Wittenberg students and one local high school student from the Global Impact STEM Academy (GISA) will have the chance to win $20,000 worth of business assistance at Tiger Tank 2020, Wittenberg’s version of the popular Shark Tank program. Other students from GISA will be in attendance and will be displaying their entrepreneurial projects in nearby Gus Geil Lounge outside Founders. Melanie Barrett, Wittenberg class of 2021, who won Tiger Tank in its inaugural year, will be emceeing the event along with Kevin Steidel, Robert E. Ness Chair of Entrepreneurship and assistant professor of practice.

Barrett, a double major in voice performance and business management from Vandalia, Ohio, introduced Bailey’s Capes at Wittenberg’s first-ever Tiger Tank event in 2018.  Barrett’s specially designed capes fit around a wheelchair to keep occupants warm and comfortable. She decided to pursue this business in honor of her sister Bailey, who was born with Lennox-Gestaut Syndrome, a rare form of epilepsy that confined her to a wheelchair and took her life at the young age of 20 in 2017. Following her Tiger Tank debut, Barrett took her idea to ABC’s Shark Tank in 2019 where she advanced to the second round. Most recently, she presented at the Springfield Hustles competition, placing among the top four.

Tiger Tank 2020 is hosted by Wittenberg’s department of business and organized by Steidel and Heath Queen, class of 2016 and coordinator for engaged learning at Wittenberg. Sarah Auble ’20, of Orville, Ohio, also helped with planning the event.

Wittenberg entrepreneurial students have the opportunity to pitch their business ideas to select Wittenberg alumni, who may hold the key to their future. This year’s judges include Gina Schaefer, Wittenberg class of 1993, Peter Franz, Wittenberg class of 2004, and Dana Akers.

Schaefer is the co-founder and CEO of 12 Ace Hardware stores located in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Maryland, and Alexandria, Virginia. According to her bio, she grew her company from one to 11 stores in a 12-year period, and along with her husband, leads a multi-million-dollar small business that employs more than 260 people. She serves on the CCA Global Partners, Inc. Board of Directors and is a member of the Ace Center for Excellence. She also serves on the non-profit boards of House of Ruth, Jubilee Jobs, and the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

Franz is a private wealth advisor at Beacon Financial Partners and has his own consulting firm, Peter Franz Co LLC in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. He has been in the financial services industry since 2007, and is a chartered financial analyst (CFA) and carries the certified financial planner (CFP) certification. According to his bio, Franz applies a comprehensive approach to wealth management for his executive and entrepreneur clients including investment risk management, estate distribution, tax minimization techniques, and income administration for retirees.

​Akers, a Wright State University alumnus, is the co-founder and managing partner at Launch Runner and an advisor to various startup companies. With a background in SEO and web design, he is also the co-founder of the Christian mental health tech startup Torrch Operations helping Christian counselors connect with those specifically seeking faith-based counseling within their local area. Launch Runner aids with digital marketing and web service needs while catering to small businesses.

All three judges will come to Wittenberg to hear students pitch their ideas in hopes of earning an internship or mentorship. Students will be judged not only on the quality of their idea, but also on how well they can problem solve.

Wittenberg, affirmed by Forbes Magazine as one of the Top 50 Most Entrepreneurial Colleges in the nation, inspires innovative thinking in its students. For more information on the event, check out the Business Department YouTube page and the Tiger Tank Live Video Links page.